Ogoni 20 factsheet / action alert

[Steve Kretzmann <steve@moles.org>]

  The factsheet below will fit onto two pages when formatted.  Please feel
  free to redistribute it as you see fit...
  
  8/13/97
  THE OGONI 20
  
  "Abacha knows that executing them or even trying them will draw unwanted
  attention.  Instead, he seems prepared to let them die in jail untried"
  							-The New York Times, August 6, 1997
  
  In 1995, internationally acclaimed writer and activist Ken Saro-Wiwa was
  executed along with eight of his colleagues.  The Ogoni Nine's only crime
  was their success is exposing Shell oil's role in destroying their homeland,
  dismantling their communities, and killing their brothers and sisters.
  Since the Ogoni began a nonviolent campaign against oil destruction, over
  2,000 people have died at the hands of a military that is armed by and paid
  for by Shell.
  
  Today, another 20 Ogoni men are in prison in Port Harcourt, Nigeria,
  awaiting "trial" - framed for murder on the same charges that the Nine were
  killed for last year.  Some have been in jail for over three years, and
  still the Nigerian government refuses to grant them bail, much less bring
  them to trial.  Testimony by the 20 implicates Shell in their arrest and
  subsequent torture.  As the most powerful entity in Nigeria, there is no
  doubt that Shell could choose to spare these men's lives, but instead, they
  are choosing to sit idly by as they waste away in prison.
  
  Current Situation
  
  "Nyieda Nasikpo had just been released from the dark room the other day. The
  dark room is a prison within  prison, serving as punishment within
  punishment.  In this room, communications within the prisons and other
  inmates is totally severed and the detainee is locked perpetually  with 24
  hours total darkness in a 3x3 feet cell at the pleasure of the authorized
  person."  Robert Azibaola, ND-HERO, and lawyer for the 20, June 1997
  
  The Nigerian military regime has gone to extreme lengths to keep the Ogoni
  20 out of court.  They know that another trial on the same charges for which
  Saro-Wiwa was executed will attract unwanted attention.  They have
  repeatedly changed venues and used legal technicalities to keep the 20 in
  jail.  On July 23 1997, Justice Daniel Kalio of the Rivers State High Court
  held that he did have jurisdiction to rule on the question of bail for the
  20.  Within a week, the government had filed an appeal, and now the hearing
  on that appeal will be held in late September. 
  
  The 20 Ogoni men remain in jail under appalling conditions.  On August 11,
  the 20 began a hunger strike, which will initially continue for 10 days.
  They are calling for international solidarity and support.
  
  Who are the Ogoni 20?
   
  The Ogoni 20 currently are: Elijan L Baadom, John Banatu, Ngbaa Baovi,
  Kagbara Bassee, Kale Beete, Friday Cburuma, Paul Deekor, Godwin Gbodor,
  Blessing Israel, Adam Kaa, Benjamin Kabari, Baribuma Kumanwe, Baritule Lebe,
  Taagalo Kmonsi, Nyieda Nasikpo, Sampson Ntiginee, Nwinbari A Papah, Zorzar
  Popgbara, Samuel A Sigha, and Babina Visor.
  
  The Ogoni 20 are supposedly being held in connection with the murders of 4
  Ogoni chiefs in Giokoo on June 21, 1994.  One of the 20 was arrested in May
  1994, prior to this crime even being committed.  At various times there have
  been 23 Ogoni (excluding the 9 who were executed in November 1995) arrested
  and charged in relation to those same murders.  The last arrest was in
  November of 1996.  20 of the 23 are still in custody.  Of the other three,
  one, Clement Tusima, died in custody in August 1995.  The other two have
  been released, reportedly after their employers exerted pressure on the
  Nigerian authorities.
  
  The men are kept in severely overcrowded cells, each with dozens of
  prisoners.  All must sleep on the floor.  Torture, denial of medical care,
  starvation, and poor sanitary conditions are all listed as complaints.  All
  of them are currently in poor health.
  
  Shell's Role
  
  "Shell Police replied that nothing can make us free from their hand, and
  that even if they forgave others, they cannot forgive the indigenes of Bomu
  and Dere communities because they are the causes of the hindrances to their
  operations in Ogoniland" - written by two of the Ogoni 20, September 21, 1996.
  
  The Ogoni 20 are in prison because they, like Ken Saro-Wiwa, opposed Shell's
  dirty operations in Nigeria and the devastation of Ogoni land through 30
  years of oil drilling activities.  Like Ken Saro-Wiwa, these men stood up
  for their rights when death squads began to sweep through their homeland in
  response to their nonviolent protests.
  
  As the above quote attests to though, Shell had a direct role in the arrest,
  detention, and subsequent torture of at least some of the Ogoni 20. Shell's
  security force, known locally as the "Shell Police" are accused of  numerous
  incidents of repression of peaceful protest and harassment of activists. 
  
  On January 30, 1996, in response to public outrage over Saro-Wiwa's
  execution, Shell stated "It is our established position that we recognise
  and support The Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The issue of the
  right to fair trial is clearly of public concern and we felt it important
  that we reiterate the Group's position on this".  Despite repeated requests,
  this is as far as the corporation has gone towards intervening in the Ogoni
  20 case.
   
  Is Shell going to stand by while 20 more people are hanged for murders they
  did not commit, before a kangaroo court?   More probably, will they continue
  to congratulate themselves for being the world's most profitable corporation
  while 20 more people waste away in jail?  Shell must take responsibility for
  the Ogoni 20. 
   
  "We have been dumped into detention without any hope of a fair trial, thus
  causing our families to suffer untold hardships. ...the Ogoni civil
  disturbance tribunal said the case against us 'is not an ordinary murder
  case'. So we know there is more to this than meets the eye.  The Government
  is settling an old score."  -The Ogoni 20
   
  WHAT YOU CAN DO:
  
  1. Contact Shell immediately.  Demand that they use every bit of their
  influence in Nigeria to ensure a swift, speedy and just trial.  In the US,
  call 1 800 845-5264 or fax 713-241-4044 and address Mr. Phillip J. Carroll,
  CEO, Shell Oil Corporation, Houston, TX 77252.  Email Shell at
  "awesome_shell@shelloil.com" and cc: "project_underground@moles.org" or
  visit their website at "www.shell.com"
  
  2. Organize demonstrations at Shell stations.  Get a group together to go on
  hunger strike (even if only for a day!) In solidarity with the 20. Get
  involved in the Shell / Nigeria campaign.
  
  ###
  
  __________________
  Steve Kretzmann
  
  510-705-8982 - office
  510-705-8983 - fax
  
  project underground
  Exposing corporate environmental & human rights abuses
  Supporting communities threatened by the mining and oil industries
  
  1847 Berkeley Way
  Berkeley, CA, 94703
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